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The Benefits Of Probiotic Bacteria

By Christine Kim

[Nutrition & Diet]

Wondering how bacteria can help your health? Christine Kim fills you in.

You may think it is odd to purposefully eat bacteria in the hopes of promoting better health, but this idea may not be so far-fetched. The human body is home to thousands of species of bacteria, many of which are vital for optimal health. There are specific types of live bacteria such as lactobacillus, acidophilus and bifidobacterium called probiotics that live in the human digestive tract. These friendly bugs are supplements that contain beneficial bacteria and yeast.

Probiotic bacteria help the body’s naturally occurring gut flora to re-establish itself. Gut flora are the microorganisms that normally live in the digestive tract and are able to perform a number of useful functions for their hosts. However, the bacterial types found in your stomach can be thrown out of balance by a wide range of circumstances such as antibiotics, drugs, alcohol, stress and disease. As a result, the bacteria that help our bodies decrease in number and other negative and competitive bacteria can thrive, causing harm to our health.

The maintenance of a healthy gut flora is very important and dependent on many factors such as the quality of food intake. It has been shown that a significant intake of probiotic foods supports a healthy flora. If you take them in the correct amount and for the correct condition, they can do much more than you can imagine. Here are some things you may not already know about probiotics and why eating bacteria can be good for you!

We All Scream for Ice Cream!

Active bacterial culture may help individuals who are lactose intolerant. The bacterial strain most commonly found in yogurt can help produce lactase enzymes. These bacteria help alleviate symptoms of lactose intolerance by providing bacterial lactase to the intestine and stomach. This means people who are lactose intolerant can usually tolerate yogurt with an active culture.

A Happy Colon is a Healthy Colon

Studies have shown that probiotics, especially acidophilus, help promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the colon and reduce the conversion of bile into carcinogens (cancer causing substances). As well, probiotic bacteria help to diminish colon cancer risk by reducing the incidence and number of tumours. The consumption of probiotics help promote good intestinal health and lead to the prevention of other rectal ailments and gastrointestinal illnesses such as colitis, Crohn’s disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

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